NEWSMAX<\/p>\n
Donald Trump on Saturday said \u201cany deaths of children or others\u201d at the U.S.-Mexico border were \u201cstrictly the fault of the Democrats\u201d in a ramp-up of the president\u2019s rhetoric over a proposed border wall.<\/p>\n
\u201cBorder Patrol needs the wall and it will all end,\u201d Trump said in a followup message on Twitter in which he reflected on the recent deaths of two young children in the custody of U.S. border protection agents — the most recent one on Christmas Day.<\/p>\n
The comments came a day after the president threatened to close the U.S.-Mexico border and sought to shift blame for a partial federal government shutdown that appears likely to stretch into 2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will be forced to close the Southern Border entirely if the Obstructionist Democrats do not give us the money to finish the Wall & also change the ridiculous immigration laws that our Country is saddled with,\u201d Trump tweeted on Friday.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s currently no sign of any progress toward a plan to fund nine government departments that closed after funding ran out Dec. 21. The Senate and House held brief sessions Thursday afternoon, and neither chamber took any votes.<\/p>\n
Democrats appeared willing to wait until they take control of the House next week at the start of the new Congress.<\/p>\n
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